Addison Brooke loves Jimmie volleyball, helps team get a win Thursday

Oct. 16—JAMESTOWN — Until a couple of months ago, North Dakota probably wasn't on Addison Brooke's list of places to go.

Now, it doesn't look like she will be leaving any time soon.

"I really like it," Brooke, a junior for the University of Jamestown volleyball team, said. "It's definitely cold but I really like it."

The weather may be cold but Brooke's performance at Harold Newman Arena was red-hot Thursday night.

Brooke helped lead her team to a 3-1 win over Minot State on Thursday night. The Jimmies will be back in action on Saturday at the University of Mary. First serve between the Marauders and Jimmies is scheduled for 2 p.m.

"I was excited for this match," Brooke said. "Especially being new to the NSIC, every time we play an unfamiliar team it's really exciting to see what challenge they are going to give up and bring out of us.

"(Minot State) pushed us and brought out our fight and desire to show what we can do," she said. "They put a lot of pressure on us and that really brings out our warrior spirit. Pressure helps us get better and it's really good for us."

Set No. 1 was a back and forth affair, with multiple long-winded rallies, tied scores and lead changes. Eventually the Beavers pulled away and managed to end it 25-21.

The next three sets weren't really that close.

The Jimmies put up a stellar 9-0 run to win the second but the team's most impressive rally came on point No. 18.

Minot State tried to end the play with a ball hit directly to an open spot on the floor but the Beavers didn't count on Momoka Minamiya's speed or willingness to hit the ground.

Minamiya, the Jimmies' libero, got to the ball just in time to save it from the floor. Mya Foslien managed to get the second touch then with one arm, Ava Bertsch sent the ball over the net and to the deep corner of the Beavers' court to secure the point.

UJ won the next seven points to win the set 25-12.

That momentum carried the Jimmies through the next two sets. Minot State never led in sets No. 3 and 4.

Ava Mueller and Brooke led the Jimmies attack with 12 and 11 kills respectively. Foslien, Caroline Puetz and Kyleigh Schopp worked together to put another 25 kills on the books.

Brooke hit at an impressive .625 and was responsible for scoring 12.5 of the Jimmies' points. The junior also put a pair of blocks on the books.

Brooke did not grow up playing volleyball. She was ultimately convinced to give the sport a try her freshman year of high school.

Needless to say, she grew to like it.

"I enjoy it so much," Brooke said. "So much that I moved to North Dakota for it."

Through her 16 matches played, Brooke has recorded 107 kills and 52 blocks.

"She is getting better and better and better," UJ head coach Jon Hegerle said of Brooke. "Her best volleyball is still ahead of her. We're seeing glimpses of what she can be."

Brooke was in the transfer portal when she was contacted by the Jimmies' coaches. Brooke said she was intrigued by the conversation and decided to pay UJ a visit.

"I met the coaches, met the players, saw and heard about the program and I just had my heart and mind set on coming here," Brooke said. "I couldn't get it off my mind.

"When I moved here and I was like, 'there's not much up here,'" she said. "It was just a bunch of fields and corn which is not what was I used to coming from Orlando but I love the small town feel and how everyone is so connected. It's so fun being a Jimmie."

University of Jamestown 3, Minot State 1

MSU 25 12 16 18

UJ 21 25 25 25

MSU — Kills: Katelyn Onespot-Danforth 9, Azjiah Trader 9, Caton Pearcy 9. Assists: Jaina Macaulay 16, Logan Drennan 12. Digs: Maya Vibeto 19, Pearcy 15, Drennan 9, Haley Saunders 9. Blocks: Kiera Hayes 4, Paulina Kowalska 2, Onespot-Danforth 2. Aces: Vibeto 1.

UJ — Kills: Ava Mueller 12, Addison Brooke 11, Mya Foslien 9, Caroline Puetz 8, Kyleigh Schopp 8, Corbyn Menz 7, Ava Bertsch 2, Gracie Adamson 1. Assists: Ava Bertsch 24, Lily Bertsch 18, Momoka Minamiya 3, Kate Wiebesiek 2, Foslien 1, Puetz 1. Digs: Minamiya 23, Menz 17, A. Bertsch 7, Mia Hinsz 6, Foslien 5, Puetz 3, L. Bertsch 3, Wiebesiek 1, Adamson 1, Mueller 1. Blocks: Schopp 4, Foslien 3, Puetz 3. Aces: A. Bertsch 3, L. Bertsch 1, Menz 1.